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Why We Need More Fuel-Efficient Vehicles Improving the fuel economy of vehicles promotes energy independence, cleaner air and U.S. job security. Consumers who purchase fuel-efficient vehicles not only support a healthier environment but also support American jobs.
Reduce Foreign Oil Dependence By reducing the amount of oil needed to fuel their vehicles, consumers have the potential to reduce the U.S.'s dependence on foreign oil.
Over half of the nearly 20 million barrels of oil that the U.S. burns each day comes from other countries, including 500,000 barrels per day from Iraq and 1.5 million per day from Saudi Arabia. About 8 million barrels per day (40%) of oil consumed in the U.S. goes to fuel cars and trucks. U.S. oil consumption costs U.S. drivers $186 billion per year. By 2020, dependence on foreign imports is expected to grow by more than 60%. The U.S. consumes more fuel from its automobiles than the total oil consumption of any other country except China, Russia and Japan.		"Our customers are increasingly concerned about the price of gasoline, air quality, oil supply issues and the effects of CO2 emissions on climate change."            -- William Clay Ford, Jr., Chairman and CEO, Ford Motor Company
Improve Job Security and Create Jobs This year more than 75,000 foreign-made hybrid cars will be sold in the U.S., double the number sold in 2003. It is time for the U.S. automakers to enter this growing market.
Advanced vehicle technology investments have preserved and added jobs: 570 jobs at GM's Ypsilanti, Michigan Transmission Plant 1100 jobs at three Ford and GM Transmission Plants in Michigan and Ohio 500 jobs at Delphi's Saginaw, Michigan Plant 720 jobs at GM's Tonawanda, New York Engine Plant 600 jobs at Ford's Chicago, Illinois Assembly Plant	Foreign countries, so far, have invested more than the U.S. in the future of their auto industries and have provided more incentives for the production and purchase of fuel efficient technologies. U.S. automakers must develop a leadership position in fuel-efficient technologies in order to stay competitive with international automakers and retain U.S. jobs. Investing in advanced vehicle technologies has added jobs to many manufacturing sites, including 700 jobs in Kentucky and Illinois. Investing in advanced vehicle technologies has also preserved jobs at manufacturing sites, including more than 2800 jobs at sites in New York, Ohio and Michigan.
Curb Climate Change By buying fuel-efficient vehicles today, consumers can begin reducing global warming gas emissions and can help to minimize the effects of global warming.
About 27% of all global warming gas emissions in the U.S. come from transportation. This is the second largest source of global warming gas emissions in the U.S., the largest source being energy generation. One third of all global warming gases produced worldwide result from transportation. Most of these global warming gases will remain in the environment for 100 years and contribute to unalterable changes to the earthís climate system. The temperature of the earth's surface is expected to rise 2.5 to 10.4 degrees Fahrenheit between 1990 and 2100 if emissions of global warming gases are not reduced. By 2050, U.S. transportation will be double what it is today if nothing is done to reduce it.
Hydrogen Powered Fuel Cell Vehicles Are they the Answer? Hydrogen fuel cell vehicles have been promoted as one way to dramatically increase fuel economy and eliminate emissions, and a number of vehicle research and demonstration programs are now underway. However, most experts agree that hybrid-electric and other advanced conventional technologies will play the most important role in the near-term to improve fuel-economy. In fact, focusing too much on fuel cells could put automakers behind their competitors, leading to the loss of U.S. jobs. Consider that: Major obstacles still exist on the road to fuel cell vehicle production, including the high cost of fuel cells, and building an adequate infrastructure for the production, distribution and storage of hydrogen. It is likely to take the automotive and energy industries another 10 to 20 years to overcome these obstacles. Hydrogen does not exist in nature in concentrated amounts, thus it must be produced. Hydrogen is currently made from natural gas through a process that gives off emissions. These emissions could cancel out the positive environmental benefits of fuel cell vehicles. Many hybrid-electric technologies, including batteries, generators and regenerative brakes, will also be used in fuel cell vehicles. Companies that gain experience with these technologies now will likely fair better in the development and production of fuel cell vehicles. Waiting 10 to 20 years to reduce fuel consumption is too long. While Americans wait, emissions will increase the severity, expense and likelihood of irreversible damage to the environment and economy.
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